On the Dayside Atmosphere of WASP-12b

Abstract The atmospheric structure of WASP-12b has been hotly contested for years, with disagreements on the presence a thermal inversion as well carbon-to-oxygen ratio, C/O, due to retrieved abundances H 2 O, CO , and other included species such HCN C . Previously, these difficult-to-diagnose discrepancies have attributed model differences; assumptions in models were thought drive retrievals toward different answers. Here, we show that some differences are independent instead subtle inputs, eclipse depths line-list databases. We replicate previously published find results data driven mostly unaffected by addition also propose new physically motivated takes into consideration formation − via dissociation O at temperatures reached dayside atmosphere WASP-12b, but data’s current resolution does not support its inclusion model. This study raises concern exoplanet may be similarly sensitive slight changes input data.